About

Joel M. Caplan earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2008). He is currently Associate Professor at Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice (SCJ), Director of the SCJ Master's Program, and Director of the Rutgers Center on Public Security (RCPS). He co-developed Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM), an evidence-based spatial diagnostic and risk assessment technique used by public safety and security agencies around the world. Joel's applied research focuses on geospatial mapping, data-informed community engagement and crime prevention. He has professional experience as a police officer, 9-1-1 dispatcher and emergency medical technician. He routinely presents at professional conferences and publishes scientific journal articles and books, including “Risk-Based Policing: Evidence-Based Crime Prevention with Big Data and Spatial Analytics” (2018) and "Risk Terrain Modeling: Crime Prevention and Risk Reduction" (2016)

Work

Principled, professionally driven, and an effective leader who gets things accomplished. I strive to do work that serves a public good and improves the world around me.
Research
Teaching
Publications
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​CV

Consulting Expert Witness

I use applied research, scientific theories and data analysis to serve your client's best interests.
Independent, evidence-based insights for civil and criminal litigation. Specializing in geospatial and temporal aspects of foreseeability, high-crime areas, opportunities for crime, security and deterrence.
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Press & Media

TEDx
National Geographic Channel
​Vice News
United Nations
The World Bank
School of Batman podcast
and more...​

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Children's Books
Advice for Graduate Students
Forbes ranked RTM in top 5 list of ways to use “big data for social good” that can “dramatically improve the lives of millions of people.” ​